Claude Giroux added the eventual game-winner 17 seconds into the second
period, while Kimmo Timonen recorded two assists in Philadelphia's first
victory after three consecutive defeats.

Ilya Bryzgalov aided the cause as well, contributing an assist on Gagne's goal
in addition to making 18 saves between the pipes.

"That's a step forward," said Giroux of the win. "We needed those two points
tonight and we obviously have a big test in front of us [Wednesday at New
Jersey], so we need to make sure we're pretty sharp going forward."

Brian Flynn and Jochen Hecht each lit the lamp for the skidding Sabres, now
losers of four in a row (0-2-2). Ryan Miller finished with 25 saves in defeat.

The Flyers never trailed after Timonen hit Gagne with a long pass and the
veteran forward converted a power-play breakaway 4:31 after the opening
whistle, in part due to a defensive breakdown by Buffalo on its initial
opportunity with a man advantage.

Steve Ott lost the puck to Philadelphia's Ruslan Fedotenko, who raced up the
right side on a 2-on-1 situation with Talbot before feeding his teammate for a
shorthanded tally that put the Flyers up 2-0 less than nine minutes in.

"We obviously started off on the wrong foot," said Sabres head coach Ron
Rolston. "That's more my responsibility, I've got to do a better job there.
We've got to be ready to go, we didn't have enough urgency or desperation off
the start."

The Sabres were able to cut the lead in half just under three minutes later,
with Flynn banging home a rebound of Kevin Porter's long drive for the
rookie's second career NHL marker, but an interference penalty called on Ott
near the end of the period eventually put Buffalo back in a two-goal hole.

Philadelphia quickly capitalized on the infraction, with Giroux beating Miller
to the stick side not long after the second period commenced.

Buffalo got back within one with a shorthanded conversion of its own 4:32 into
the third frame, with Ott knocking the puck from Giroux and creating an odd-
man rush with Hecht that the latter scored on.

The Sabres put up five shots over the remainder of the contest, but Bryzgalov
was able to preserve the lead.

GAME NOTES:
The Flyers improved to 9-4-0 this season when scoring the first goal ...
Talbot's shorthanded goal was the 15th of his career, while Hecht netted his
10th tally in such situations ... Giroux has a goal in all three meetings
between the clubs this season, with Timonen amassing five assists over the
course of those games ... Philadelphia finished 2-of-6 on the power play.